Many times, people get a little confused when it comes to severe cold and flu symptoms. It can be a little hard to know the difference between the two conditions. This is especially because they both have some of the same signs. But, having a little clarity about the differences between these two illnesses can help you decide on the best ways to treat your condition.

Defining the Cold and Flu

A common cold is a viral infection that affects the respiratory tract. It can cause a lot of discomfort. But, it usually passes quickly, within one or two weeks. A cold can spread through the air when a sick person coughs or sneezes. It can also spread through physical contact. If a person who has a cold touches an item, like a toy or blanket, it can make other people sick when they touch the same object. Sharing utensils can spread the virus, too. A cold virus enters the body through the nose, eyes, or mouth. Of course, you can get a cold any time of the year. But, people tend to get colds during the cooler months, especially during winter and fall.

Influenza, or the flu, is also a viral infection. It normally takes a couple of days to feel the impact of the flu. This viral infection affects the lungs, nose, and throat. Like a cold, the flu is contagious and can spread through the air. It is passed around in most of the same ways as a common cold: coughing, sneezing, talking, physical contact, and so forth. Unless the condition is extremely severe or causes other complications, people can get better within about one or two weeks.

Comparing Severe Cold and Flu Symptoms

Again, both of these conditions have similar signs and symptoms. That’s why people get a little mixed up with severe cold and flu signs. But, let’s take a look at the differences between colds and flus:

Cold: People don’t usually get a fever.
Flu: Normally, those who have the flu with have a fever.

Cold: If you have a cold, you most likely won’t have chills.
Flu: You’ll probably experience chills.

Cold: People who have colds usually sneeze a lot.
Flu: Sneezing doesn’t happen as often.

Cold: This condition doesn’t usually cause aches and pains.
Flu: Most of the time, people feel muscle aches when they have the flu.

Cold: Sometimes, you might have a headache if you have a cold.
Flu: You’re more likely to have a headache if you have the flu.

Cold: Common colds can make individuals feel fatigued and tired. But, they rarely make people feel extremely exhausted.
Flu: Total exhaustion is common with the flu.

How to Prevent Severe Cold and Flu Conditions

These illnesses are different in a couple of ways. But, you can use some of the same methods to prevent yourself from getting them. You can prevent severe cold and flu symptoms by washing your hands a lot. Also, try to avoid being around the viruses as much as you can. Encourage those who are sick to cover their mouths when they cough or sneeze. Do not use the same cups or utensils as someone who is ill. If a family member is or has recently been sick, disinfect and clean your home as well as you can.

Treating a Severe Cold and Flu

If you have either of these viral infections, you should absolutely see your doctor. If he or she prescribes a medication for your treatment, don’t worry! The RX Helper is here to help people get pricey medication at little to no cost. Some of the prescriptions we help with can treat severe cold and flu symptoms. If you would like more information about our prescription assistance prescription program, contact us today.

Winter is nearing, and so are winter health concerns. Whether you seem to get a cold around the winter months, need the motivation to maintain health, or seem to struggle with the cost of medications in the winter months, this article is for you! For individuals who are worried about their health this winter, there are a few winter health tips you can take advantage of this year!

Keeping Care of Your Skin

Cold, dry air can affect your skin. So, it’s important to be prepared so that your largest organ can be taken care of this winter! To prevent drying of your lips, invest in a nice lip balm which can protect you from blisters and tears.To keep skin from drying, make sure to routinely apply lotions or moisturizers. Additionally, water is essential to keep the skin hydrated. So, make sure you’re drinking enough water throughout the day and stay hydrated this winter. Finally, many are starting to acknowledge and experience the benefits of an air humidifier. These make the air in your home less arid so that your skin can get a break from the outside! There are a number of options available, so it’s best to conduct your research before purchasing a solution you think suits your home!

Keeping Up with Exercise

Especially if you live in a northern state, it may be harder to go out and get the exercise you need in colder weather.  But, don’t let winter determine if you’re getting the exercise you need to maintain health. Instead of exercising outside, choose an indoor option. If your area is short on community centers and classes, you may want to consider joining a gym for a few months. Many gyms understand that many of their guests don’t need an annual contract and only wish to reside indoors for their exercise during the winter.

Boost Your Immune System

Everyone knows that the winter months are when flu and colds get spread around. But, not everyone knows how to prepare their immune system for this inevitable illness season. Probiotics and immune supplements can help prepare your body to fight off infection, illness, and bacteria before it’s even noticed. To help boost immune health even more, make sure you’re taking your daily multivitamin. Getting the vitamins you need can not only keep you healthy but help your body to fight off any illness which may come your way this winter!

Healthy Diet, Healthy Mind

Pumpkin pie, sugar cookies, and a number of other sweets fill our minds when we picture the holidays. But, make sure to keep a balanced diet to refrain from excess weight gain this winter. Diet not only can affect your weight, but it can affect the way you feel as well! Especially in the winter months when the sun doesn’t provide as much vitamin D for you to absorb through the skin. So, it’s important to eat foods which naturally provide vitamin D. Beat the winter blues by eating foods like salmon, cheese, eggs, tuna, yogurt, and beef.

Get a Flu Shot

Don’t let going head first into flu season without the flu shot your regret this winter. The elderly, children and everyone in between are at a higher risk for catching the flu virus as soon as winter hits. So, be prepared by asking your doctor about your family’s flu shots before it’s too late!

Getting Help Paying for Winter Health Medications

Worried about how you’re going to pay for your prescriptions this winter? If you have little or no prescription insurance coverage, you may be eligible to receive medication discounts on hundreds of medications. These programs, otherwise known as patient assistance programs, are available through our services at a small monthly fee. Find out if your medications are covered by viewing our list of discounted or even completely covered medications. And, find out if you’re qualified to receive these discounts by checking out the qualification requirements listed on our website!

Heart problems are a growing concern for Americans. In fact, heart problems are such a concern that they are actually the number one cause of death in America according to a study performed by The Heart Foundation. Although prescription medication can help those who have already been affected by heart disease, the best thing to do is prevent heart problems altogether. Fortunately, there are things you can do to keep your heart healthy. Check out these lifestyle changes you can use to reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases.

Keep Your Heart Healthy by Reducing Non-Natural Sugars

Sure, it’s important to reduce sugar intake. When sugar is digested, it turns to fat. And, fat should only be about 10% of our daily intake. So, all in all, sugar is something that we can consume as humans. But, it’s something that should definitely be regulated. Along with sugar moderation, humans who are trying to keep healthy hearts should also regulate non-natural sugar intake. While natural sugars can be digested easily, added sugars like high fructose corn syrup cannot. Try reducing the number of sugary drinks and foods are consumed. If you have a sweet tooth and are having trouble eliminating or reducing sugar from your diet, try implementing the natural sweetness of fruits into your daily diet!

Keep Your Heart Healthy by Exercising More

When your heart is weak, it won’t perform the way it should. The heart is a muscle, and as such, it can get stronger with exercise. When you work out, your heart works out too. Exercise causes an increased heart rate to compensate for the need to transfer of oxygen throughout the bloodstream. Increasing the heart rate through exercise is recommended three times a week for at least half an hour. But, even light exercise can help to keep your heart healthy. To implement more exercise into your daily schedule, try parking farther away in parking lots so that you’re forced to take some extra steps. If you want to take walking even further, try swapping out your car keys for your walking shoes and walk to the store, work, or on other errands. If you don’t like walking, try a gym membership. Most facilities implement easy, moderate, and advanced classes for individuals who want to work on heart health!

Keep Your Heart Healthy by Reducing Salt Intake

Those with high blood pressure are at an increased risk for heart attack, stroke, and other heart diseases. This is because high blood pressure adds more stress and pressure on the heart. To reduce your risk for high blood pressure and, in turn, your risk for heart disease, lower your salt intake. Salt can increase high blood pressure because when there is too much salt digested, the body compensates by holding onto water. This over-storage of water is held in the blood and results in the body having to work harder to pump blood throughout the body. So, swap out your salty snacks for something more heart conscious.

Keeping Your Heart Healthy by Taking Daily Prescription Medications

It’s fortunate that those who have not been diagnosed with heart disease can still reduce their risk and prevent heart attack or stroke. But, for those who have already been diagnosed with a heart disease, it’s even more important to implement these lifestyle changes. And, additional to making healthy decisions throughout daily life, these individuals should also take their prescribed medication. But, for many, the costs of heart medications can be debilitating. If you or a loved one needs help to afford the cost of their heart disease prescriptions, The RX Helper may be able to help. Give us a call today at 877-767-3297 to find out how.

Questions to Ask your Doctor about Prescription Meds

Finding that your doctor has a medical treatment for an illness is a relief. But, it’s common to leave the doctor’s office with confusion about a new prescription. So, before going to a doctor to find a medical solution, come prepared with questions in hand for your doctor. That way, you’ll leave with the confidence to take your prescription meds and get started with treatment!

What is the prescription?

Before taking a medication, you’ll need to know what it is and why you need to take it. This will help you to understand how the drug will benefit you. And, it can help you and your doctor get on the same page with the reason for treatment. Getting familiar with your medication will help you feel more confident about why you’re getting a prescription in the first place.

How effective is the prescription?

Before taking your prescription meds, are you sure that they have been proven effective? Ask your doctor if the prescription given to you has been shown effective in clinical trials. Prescription drugs are all regulated by the Food and Drug Administration, so we know that a doctor can’t prescribe something that’s completely ineffective. But, clinical trials can help you to weigh the risks against the advantages of using prescription meds.

What are the side effects?

Some medications, although beneficial to treating or even curing illness, come with unavoidable side effects. Others portray side effects when something goes wrong. You’ll need to know both inevitable and unpredictable side effects of the prescription meds you’re taking. This way, if you do experience side effects, you’ll be sure which ones are an emergency situation and which are simply expected. And, you’ll be better prepared to know what to expect of your medications.

Is this prescription going to interfere with other prescriptions meds I’m taking?

If you are taking other prescription meds, you’ll need to know if your new prescription will interfere with them. Mixing different medications can sometimes offer horrible outcomes. So, it’s important to know if taking all of your medications together is alright for your health. Tell your doctor about all of the medications you are currently taking as well as other medical history that may affect the effectiveness of your new medication.

How do you administer the prescription medication?

You’ll likely need to administer your medication on a certain schedule, or with or without eating a meal. Talk to your doctor about specifics of taking your medication before you get it filled. Also, if you have a medication that needs inhaling or injecting, you can ask your doctor to perform a demonstration of administration. This way, you’ll be able to confidently administer your own treatment on a daily basis.

What should I do if I ever skip a dose?

Medications won’t work unless they’re being taken on the right schedule. But, it’s not uncommon for patients to accidentally skip doses. Ask your doctor what you should do in the event of an accidental missed dose. This way, you’ll understand the risks of missing your scheduled medication and also what steps to take.

How should I store my medication?

Some prescriptions have special instructions for storage. Whether it be kept in a dry, refrigerated, or otherwise setting, you’ll need to know how to safely and securely store your medication. Properly storing medication will help to keep it working the way it should so that you can get healthy!

Ask yourself a Final Question about your Prescription Meds

Lastly, the final question you should contemplate is not for your doctor, but yourself. How are you going to pay for the cost of your prescription meds? More often than not, prescriptions are expensive to cover financially. But, fortunately, there are solutions. One such solution is prescription assistance. These programs, offered by non profit organizations and large manufacturers of pharmaceuticals, cover or discount hundreds of generic and name brand prescription meds. And, The RX Helper can match you to the ones which discount your prescription medications. To find out if you qualify, please visit our website for more information. Or, give us a call today to speak with a knowledgeable medication representative at 877-767-3297.

Eating is how we create the needed energy to move and perform any task. More often than not, we eat because we are hungry and need to keep our energy levels up. But, we rarely think about how hard our digestive system works to convert needed food into energy, and overall digestive system health. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 60 to 70 million Americans are currently affected by a diagnosed digestive disease. Everyone has a digestive system, and every digestive system performs thousands of jobs. Keeping up with overall health and wellbeing means taking measures to also maintain digestive system health. Learning about digestive system ailments and how to prevent them with lifestyle changes could help keep your digestive system health on the right track!

What is the Digestive System?

Before you can effectively maintain and boost digestive system health, you must know what the digestive system is and what it does. The digestive system’s job is to carry the food you eat throughout the body and convert that food into energy, as well as expel waste. It features many organs, including the mouth, pharynx, throat, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, small intestines, colon, rectum, and anus. Each organ of the digestive system carries out its own job in the process of converting food into energy. Specific digestive system ailments may affect a singular digestive organ or they may affect many. To maintain or improve health of a specific digestive system organ, learn more about how the body converts food into energy using specific digestive organs.

Digestive Diseases that Impair Digestive System Health

Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD): IBD is a relatively common condition that involves inflammation of the intestinal tract. It can lead to a number of debilitating and aggravating symptoms including the development of painful sores within the lining of the intestines. There are two different types of IBS diagnosed in patients; Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. Fortunately, the over 3 million Americans affected by these two conditions can find symptom relief through prescription medications.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD): GERD, or more commonly referred to as acid reflux, is a condition in which individuals are affected by overactive stomach acid that creeps up into the esophagus, leading to developed sores and inflammation. This causes extreme pain and difficulty eating or drinking. Individuals diagnosed with GERD are prescribed solutions to manage stomach acid so that symptoms are maintained.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS): The cause of this condition is not recognized, and there is no cure. Those diagnosed with IBS will likely experience constipation, loose bowels, and stomach pain. Fortunately, certain prescriptions are available for individuals diagnosed with the condition so that symptoms can be managed and prevented.

Celiac Disease: Individuals diagnosed with celiac disease are incapable of digesting a commonly used food ingredient, gluten. Gluten is a natural protein identified in a number of grains. Although the condition is rare, for those diagnosed, eating is made more challenging due to the fact that nutrients cannot be absorbed by food if gluten is present. Following a diet which avoids products made with gluten can help individuals with celiac disease prevent symptoms of the ailment.

Colon Cancer: The third most diagnosed type of cancer in the United States, colon cancer can be prevented with lifestyle. Eating foods rich in nutrients like fruits and vegetables will provide you with the right amount of fiber and vitamins to keep the risk for colon cancer at bay. Additionally, a healthy amount of weekly exercise can keep the colon maintained and healthy. For those diagnosed, specific medicinal treatments may be offered by an oncologist or primary physician.

Paying for Digestive Issue Treatments

Have you been diagnosed with a digestive system disease? Keeping track of your digestive system health by taking recommended prescriptions can help you manage a more symptom-free life. Unfortunately, many individuals who have been diagnosed with one of the above conditions are unable to afford the cost of their medications due to a lack of or little prescription insurance coverage. The RX Helper works to help individuals struggling with digestive system health and medicinal finances by discounting or covering the cost of needed medications. To find out if you are eligible to receive discounts through our service, please visit our website to learn about the qualification requirements. To find out if we cover your specific digestive system medication, view our list of discounted prescriptions on our website. Have questions about our services? Give us a call today at 877-767-3297 to speak with an experienced staff member!

Patients suffering from diabetes rely on prescription medications along with diet and exercise to control and manage their symptoms and stay healthy. There are many different medications that treat diabetes. Since patients suffering from diabetes require lifelong, daily medications in many cases, these prescriptions can become prohibitively expensive. Fortunately, Bydureon medication assistance is available through prescription discount programs for patients who need it.

Bydureon Medication for Diabetes

Bydureon medication is used to treat diabetes. In patients suffering from type 2 diabetes or non-insulin dependent diabetic conditions, the active ingredient, exenatide, helps to regulate blood sugar levels. This particular medication is an extended release injection that lasts for seven days, and is generally prescribed for patients whose symptoms do not respond to other diabetes medications such as metformin. Unlike insulin injections, which add insulin directly into a patient’s system, bydureon works by acting as a hormone that naturally occurs in the body, GLP-1. In most people, GLP-1 signals the pancreas to produce insulin, reduces glucose production, reduces digestion rates, and signals the brain to feel full, reducing food cravings that can disrupt blood sugar levels. Bydureon acts in the same way as GLP-1 within all of these systems in the body to regulate blood sugar and reduce symptoms in diabetic patients.

Side Effects and Use of Bydureon

Bydureon is administered differently than other diabetes medications, which generally are used intravenously. Bydureon injections are done subcutaneously, meaning under the skin, rather than in the veins (IV) or intramuscularly (IM.) The benefit of this route of administration is that the medication sits under the skin and slowly disperses, making it effective for a week. This eliminates the need for daily injections and provides a convenient and user-friendly method of treating diabetes. Bydureon medication also differs from other medications because it does not require daily monitoring of blood glucose levels, which can also make use easier for patients. Injections should be done on the same day weekly for maximum benefit, and can be taken with or without food. Diabetes can cause a host of health problems that can be debilitating and even life-threatening, and medication is a vital component of preventing these health consequences and allowing patients to lead long, healthy, productive lives.

Bydureon medication can prevent common symptoms and effects of type 2 diabetes, including:

• Fatigue
• Increased hunger or thirst
• Unusual changes in weight
• Frequent urination
• Blurred vision
• Tingling, pain, or numbness in hands and feet
• Excessive sweating
• Low blood sugar indicators, such as light-headedness
• Frequent infections and delayed healing of wounds
• Acanthosis nigricans (uneven patches of darkened skin)
• Cardiovascular disease
• High blood pressure
• Heart attack
• Stroke
• Kidney damage or failure
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Nerve damage in the feet
• Hearing impairment or loss
• Bacterial and fungal skin infections
• Increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, according to preliminary studies

Bydureon effectively treats the symptoms of type 2 non-insulin dependent diabetes and prevents the serious complications that untreated diabetes can cause. There are rare side effects of the medication to watch out for, such as injection-site reactions or allergic responses to the medication. Doctors can help patients to determine whether or not Bydureon medication is a safe and effective treatment option for their diabetic condition.

Prescription Assistance for Bydureon

Prescription medication costs for commonly prescribed drugs, such as Bydureon, have steadily increased over the past several years. For many patients who rely on these lifesaving medications, insurance coverage is not sufficient. For uninsured patients, monthly medication costs can be prohibitive, forcing people to choose between prescription drugs and other life essentials. At The Rx Helper, our motto is “Let us lend you a helping hand.” The Rx Helper is a prescription drug assistance program that helps patients get discounts on their medications so that they can afford the best quality treatment for any medical condition they may be diagnosed with. We work with pharmaceutical companies, medical professionals, doctors, and patients to reduce the cost of prescription drugs so that patients can afford to treat their conditions. Application is free, quick, and easy. To enroll in our program today and start saving on Bydureon and other prescription medication, contact us by phone at 877-767-3297 or via email at info@therxhelper.com

If your parents or grandparents are elderly, you know how medications are a vital part of their daily lives. Over ninety percent of older adults have at least one known chronic medical condition, resulting in daily doses of prescription medications. Keeping track of these medications and their instructions for use is an important task that many elderly people cannot perform themselves. If you provide an elder help with medication, there are a few helpful tips to practice.

Create a Medication List- Find out which medications your loved one takes daily and write them down into the form of a list. This includes not only prescription medications but daily medications as well. Household remedies and daily vitamins should be included in this list so that everything is covered.

Pay Close Attention to Labels- Make sure that ingredients found in prescription labels aren’t being repeatedly taken in other daily medications. Doubling dosage can be dangerous and cause health concerns. Also, make sure to follow instructions on labels for correct dosage times and amounts.

Ask a Pharmacist- Once your list is completed, check your loved one’s pharmacist. They can double check for medication redundancy and make sure that your list is complete. They may also have suggestions for over the counter remedies for problems that arise before a doctor’s appointment.

Keep Organized- Elderly patients can have multiple prescriptions written by many different doctors. Create a dosage schedule so that your loved one will know what time to take their pills. Eliminate out of date prescriptions and remove any that a physician or pharmacist encourages to refrain from.

Make it Easy- The older you get, the harder it gets to take more than 10 pills at a time. Ask your loved one’s pharmacist if there are other ways of medicinal intake if a problem with swallowing develops. Many medication have alternate forms of ingestion. Some may be able to be crushed up and mixed with food or come as a liquid form.

Don’t Alter- It can be damaging when a person decides not to take medication that has been prescribed by a doctor. For this reason, you should never alter the dosage schedule of your loved one’s medication. If you feel that a medication should be taken less frequently or removed altogether, ask a doctor before making decisions.

Easy Access- Make medication scheduling easy and convenient with a pillbox. Designs even include electronic pillboxes that come with alarm that can be set to when medication needs to be taken. Pillboxes make it easy to keep track of medication use weeks, or even months at a time.

Change as Directed- As life keeps changing, so will medication use. Doctors will change your loved one’s prescriptions and advice different methods. Alter your medication scheduling and list as these changes occur.

Financial Prescription Help with Medication

We understand that medications can become expensive, especially if you have to take multiple doses and medications daily. If you or your elderly loved one could use some financial help with medication cost, The RX Helper.com was designed with you in mind. We provide prescription assistance programs for those who have little or no prescription medication coverage provided by health insurance. To see if you qualify for help with medication, visit our website.

What is Dulera Inhalation?

Dulera is also known as mometasone furoate and formoterol fumarate dihydrate. It is a medicine that is inhaled and used in the prevention and control of the symptoms of asthma. It is used for adults and children who are 12 years of age and older. It is effective in lessening the incidences of asthma symptoms, but is not to be used during an actual attack.

What is Dulera prescribed for?

Asthma can substantially limit your participation in fun and healthy activities. The threat of an asthma attack can have a profound effect on your willingness and ability to exercise, swim, cycle, and dance or participate in outdoor or sporting events. Dulera Inhalation can help to prevent these episodes, allowing for fuller life experience with fewer symptoms.

How does Dulera work?

Dulera Inhalation lessens wheezing and difficulty in breathing. It is recommended as treatment for persons who have asthma that is not well-controlled. It significantly improves lung function and lessens the need for rescue inhalations and the sudden onset of symptoms in the majority of users.

What are the side effects of Dulera?

As with any medication, there are risks associated with the use of Dulera Inhalant. It could cause an increased risk of asthma problems serious enough to require hospitalization and in some cases, has lead to death. Allergic reactions are also possible.

The most common side effects are headache and inflammation of the nose, throat, and sinuses. Less commonly severe reactions may occur including eye problems low bone density, increased wheezing, reduced adrenal function, low energy, worsening of bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic infections, yeast infection and symptoms of allergic reaction.

Do the benefits of Dulera outweigh the risks?

Dulera Inhalant is for the treatment of asthma that is not well-controlled and approximately 70% of users respond well to this treatment and report a noticeable improvement in lung function with less asthmatic episodes. Your personal health care provider is the best qualified to discuss whether or not Dulera Inhalant is the best choice for treating your asthma symptoms.

Help with the cost of Dulera…

Not many people know that a number of Pharmaceutical companies run programs called the Patient Assistance Programs or prescription assistance programs. These programs are designed to help people with low income and little to no prescription insurance coverage by providing the medications at little or no money.

The Rx Solution is an organization that was founded to help such people. Here at The Rx Solution, we help a number of patients without prescription drug coverage to get medications through the various prescription assistance programs.

We bring together our nation’s largest pharmaceutical companies along with other medical professionals to help patients qualify for such programs for very low monthly fees. Our mission is to spread awareness of such programs and help eligible people get into such programs easily and without hassle.

If you need help with the cost of Dulera, call us today at (888) 823-0042 to enroll in our widely successful program. Join us today and let us lend you a helping hand.